Palace of Iturbide

This Mexican Baroque building was designed and begun by Francisco Antonio Guerrero y Torres and finished by his brother-in-law Agustín Duran between 1779 and 1785.^[1][5] The building has three floors and a mezzanine, showing Italian influence in its Baroque design. Its façade of tezontle and cantera stone^[6] is flanked by two fortified towers at the ends of the façade. It has a central gallery or loggia, which is now closed to the public. The façade is decorated with carved stone that features organic and geometric motifs such as flowers, small double-tailed mermaids and graceful male figures. Inside, the porch has a vaulted roof.^[1]

A large archway leads to the courtyard decorated with geometric figures.^[1] The courtyard is surrounded by eighteen arches supported by Tuscan columns.^[6]

Early in the 19th century, the building housed the College of Mining. It was remodeled in 1855 for use as a hotel, serving that function for more than 100 years.

In 1965, the building was purchased and restored by the National Bank of Mexico. In 1972, it became the home of the Banamex Cultural Foundation (Fomento Cultural Banamex).^[5]

The foundation spent two years from 2002 to 2004 doing significant restoration work on the building. It reopened the structure for use as the “Palacio de Cultura Banamex.” It hosts numerous temporary art exhibitions, as well as art workshops for adults and children.^[5]

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  Facade of the Palace of Iturbide in 1883 by Thomas Brocklehurst.^[7]
• 
  Courtyard of the Palace of Iturbide in 1880 by Abel Briquet.

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19°26′1.55″N 99°8′19.92″W / 19.4337639°N 99.1388667°W / 19.4337639; -99.1388667